The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-13
WILLIAM BELDEN.

Something About the Man Who Bested Jay
Gould in q Gambling Transaction.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, Feb. 10-Every once in q while
some newspaper publishes a reminiscent note Of
the Black Friday calamity that shook Wall
street and the country decade ago, and the
name of William Belden always figures in these
paragraphs as the man who bested Jay Gould id
this monumental episode of the metropolitan
gambling exchange.
When Beden's name is mentioned it Is az q
leaf from the history of the past. and few know
that the youthful operator. then but thirty-fvA
years Of age, who played David to Gould's Coli
ath, with such damaging results to the latter. Is
still moving and potent factor in the strong
undercurrent of the commercial pulse of the me-
tropolis William Belden was a soldier in the
Union war, and, as his tilt with Gould proved,
he is still fighter &c the backbone
He retired, ostensibly, from business, shortly
after the Black Friday earthquake, and the pres
emit generation never hears of him these days az
an active combataat in the lists. But his powell
is felt in many directions. He has the ear Of
two of the most prominent metropolitan judges.
and preserves in his dealings with them, all the
traditions Of the old time ring" rule Of twenty
years ago.
Some time since he purchased from John
hairbreadth escapes in this craft including B
narrowing midnight experience with the Fall
river steamer Bristol. in which but q second Of
time stood between 500 lives and eternity, and
an actual collision with another yacht upon the
Hudson, by which the latter craft was sunk hS
with characteristic imperturbabilty, sent tho
Yosemite back to Roach on the ground that Il
did not altogether suit him.
Knowing his power with the bench, Roach
took the craft back, and for several seasons used
it in Southern waters in trading with the porta
along the coast Mr.. Beldan is a unique com.
bination Of manly warm heartedness ahd com.
mercial callousness. He has q magnificent resi-.
palace. In tina MUSHROOM is grand pipe
organ, probably the largest parlor instrument OF
the kind in the metropolis for Mr.. Belden il d
connoisseur IL music, has q finely cultivated
baritone voice, and not only plays the organ
with the enthusiasm of 4 devotee, but composes
music for his favorite instrument with the skill
Of an artist. He has, too. . superb villa on
Long Island sound, about twenty FIVE miles from
the city. Here, too. he has grand organ. and
entertains his guests in the sumrher ZEN PRINCE
Mr.. Belden has been twice married His Se6s
ond wife. widow, IL woman OF exquisite
beauty and Of rare Accomplishments
Mr.. Belden, with his impiacable nature Of the
warrior, rules his household with Al iron hand,
and himself averse TO society, permits the world
80 see little of the beautiful and magnetic woman
to whose rare talents and keen intuition much Of
the success Of his extraordinary career is due
The amount OF Relden's possessions is known
only to himself. Sut it is known to be among the
millions. William 6clden's name will pass into
history as the only man JsS Gould ever really
feared. They never meet In Shese days, and
Belden's s'still-waters-. un- deep" temperament
forbids his speaking Of the great triumph Of tho
past over the dread Goliath of Wall street
B. B. VALENTINE